Some simple safety tips for painting on a ladder
Painting walls and ceilings may require using a ladder and working at height. This brings a new set of dangers to the task. Fortunately, ladder safety is a simple affair as long as you follow some common-sense guidelines while painting.
Inspect the ladder
Firstly, never use a ladder until you have checked that it is in sound condition. Look out for any loose screws or damaged rungs. Ladders that are used for painting work are particularly prone to spillages of paints or other chemicals, which could make the rungs slippery. You should therefore ensure that all surfaces are safe and remove any paint that might be preventing you from getting a good grip on the rungs.
Stand properly
When you are painting from a ladder, it is inevitable that you will have one hand off the ladder stretching out to apply paint to the walls or ceiling. This can make you much less balanced than you should be. To counter this, make sure you are not standing near the top of the ladder. Always keep one hand securely holding the ladder while the other is painting, and make sure you do not stretch too far. It may be annoying to climb down and move the ladder, but this is much safer.
Use accessories
It is much harder to climb and balance on a ladder while carrying brushes, paint and other equipment. You should therefore make use of accessories to hold these items. S-shaped ladder hooks are very useful for hanging paint tins from a ladder. A ladder tray is another handy accessory that will fit onto the rungs and provide a level surface on which you can place your equipment. Other hooks can be fitted to hold your paintbrushes. All of these accessories leave your hands free for climbing and supporting yourself on the ladder.
Use the professionals
Ultimately, the best way to ensure that the job is carried out safely is to hire a professional house painter. They will have experience and training in painting at height and will have the right equipment in good condition. They will therefore carry out the work to a very high standard without compromising on safety. And if there are any problems, they will also be fully insured.
Just hire a professional for your house painting job, and you will know that the work will be carried out with no risk to yourself or your family.
For more information, contact a local house painter.